“The pre-tribulation rapture enables Israel to fulfil her 70
weeks timeline”
With this
message I will demonstrate that the only logical time for the rapture is at the
start of a seven-year tribulation so that Israel can have its timeline
(according to Daniel) completed. The passage in Daniel is very important but
must be consistently lined up with all other references to the same event.
1/. A period of seven years remains
on Israel’s timeline.
Daniel
9:24-27 – 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy
people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end
of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting
righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most
Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, [that] from
the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the
Messiah the Prince [shall be] seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of
the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the
end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war
desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the
covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause
the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of
abominations he shall make [it] desolate, even until the consummation,
and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
This passage is
critical to our understanding of the end-times timeline. It is clear that
Daniel meant each day to represent a year. The command to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem was given to Ezra in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes (465
BC to 425 BC) – also known as Longimanus because his
right hand was longer than his left.
Ezra 7:11-13 – 11 Now
this [is] the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra
the priest, the scribe, [even] a scribe of the words of the commandments
of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel. 12 Artaxerxes,
king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven,
perfect [peace], and at such a time. 13 I make a
decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and [of] his priests and
Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to
Jerusalem, go with thee.
This places the
command around 458-457 BC. 49 times 7 years = 483 years takes us to around 27
AD, with the crucifixion (assuming Jesus was 33 years old) generally around
28-29 AD. So we can assume that Daniel’s prophecy means the crucifixion date
after 49 weeks of years. Note that the uncertainty of the absolute date of that
command, means that to arrive within a year or two of Jesus’ crucifixion has to
be fairly conclusive! Thus Daniel’s prophecy leaves us just one week of years
remaining of Israel’s timeline.
The whole 70
weeks was to finish the transgression of Israel and to bring in everlasting
righteousness. This hasn’t happened yet, nor will it until after Jesus returns
to reign as King at Jerusalem for a thousand years. Thus, sometime between the
crucifixion and the second coming is a seven week period yet to run on Israel’s
timeline. It is logical to assume that this will be the last seven years before
their Messiah returns. Clearly it hasn’t happened yet!
Zechariah
12:10 – And I will
pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit
of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have
pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth
for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one
that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
The seven year
period appears to be reinforced by Ezekiel in what appears to be the war that
triggers Israel returning to God as His people.
Ezekiel 39:1-10 – 1 Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against
Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I [am]
against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech
and Tubal: 2 And I will turn thee back, and leave but the
sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and
will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: 3 And I will
smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of
thy right hand. 4 Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of
Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that [is] with thee: I
will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and [to] the
beasts of the field to be devoured. 5 Thou shalt fall upon the
open field: for I have spoken [it], saith the
Lord God. 6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them
that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I [am] the
Lord. 7 So will I make my holy name known in the
midst of my people Israel; and I will not [let them] pollute my holy
name any more: and the heathen shall know that I [am] the Lord, the Holy
One in Israel. 8 Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord God; this [is] the day whereof I have
spoken. 9 And they that dwell in the cities of
Israel shall go forth, and shall set on fire and burn the weapons, both the
shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the handstaves,
and the spears, and they shall burn them with fire seven years: 10 So that they shall
take no wood out of the field, neither cut down [any] out of the
forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and they shall spoil those
that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, saith
the Lord God.
We also have a
number of times mentioned which correspond to around three and a half years, or
in two cases with extra added on.
“a time, times
and a half” = 3½ years (Eg Daniel 12:7)
“a time and
times and the dividing of time” = 3½ years (Eg Daniel
7:25)
“a thousand,
two hundred and ninety days” = 3½ years plus 30 days (Eg
Daniel 12:11)
“thousand three
hundred and five and thirty days” = 3½ years plus 75 days (Eg
Daniel 12:12).
Also note “forty
{and} two months” = 3½ years (Revelation 11:2)
“a thousand two
hundred {and} threescore days” 1260 days = 3½ years (Revelation 12:6.
It is generally
accepted that the tribulation will last either for 3½ years or 7 years,
depending on whether you determine the timespans to be concurrent or
consecutive. On this basis, some determine the rapture to be either 3½ or 7
years before the second coming. Some consider the tribulation period to be 7
years with only the second half a time of great suffering. However, a
reasonably literal interpretation of the Bible has to assume a 7 year period
left of Israel’s timeline between the crucifixion and the second coming.
2/. A complete unbroken 7 year
period is indicated by Daniel.
Daniel 9:27a – And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one
week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the
oblation (offering) to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations
he shall make [it] desolate,
overspreading – out of 108 usages in KJV, 74 are “wing”
and 14 are “skirt”.
“he” is the
prince that shall come …..
Daniel 9:26 – And after threescore and two
weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the
prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the
end thereof {shall be} with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations
are determined.
In 70 AD the
people of Rome destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple, and it shall be
the prince of this same people (that is, the Romans) who will then confirm the
covenant with Israel for that final week of years.
The idea
appears to be that this prince (the antichrist) will make use of abominations,
causing them to serve his purposes to make the city of Jerusalem desolate.
Daniel states that this prince of Rome, the antichrist, will set up
abominations in the midst of his covenanted week with Israel, clearly using the
offence to attempt to take greater control of Jerusalem and the temple in
particular.
The abomination
mentioned by Daniel is in the midst of the week of years. This says that he
(the antichrist) will make a covenant or agreement with many (including Israel)
for a week, apparently to reinstate the sacrifices in the temple. Note that the
daily sacrifice is taken away when the abomination of desolation is set up (in
the temple, in the middle of that covenant week).
Daniel 12:11 – And from the
time [that] the daily [sacrifice] shall be taken away, and the
abomination that maketh desolate set up, [there
shall be] a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
This 1290 days (Daniel
12:11) includes the 1260 days Israel is protected in the wilderness (Revelation
12:6). That is, after the abomination in the midst of the week, a period of 3½
years follows until the lead-up to Armageddon and the second coming. This has
to also assume a corresponding period of 3½ years before the abomination.
Revelation 12:6 – And the woman fled into the
wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her
there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days (= 1260 days or 3½
years).
The extra 30
days appears to be the time taken for the 7 bowls of wrath of God leading up to
Armageddon (Revelation 16). This is the culmination of the tribulation. It is
likely that Israel, after being protected by God in the wilderness for 1260
days (3½ years) is brought back to Jerusalem to face the build-up to the battle
of Armageddon, a time period of probably only 30 days. Thus the 1260 + 30 =
1290 days.
Jesus taught
about the “abomination” of Daniel 9:27 and 12:11 in Matthew 24 and Mark 13.
Matthew
24:15-22 – 15 When
ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the
prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let
him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee
into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not
come down to take any thing out of his house: 18
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his
clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to
them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your
flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath
day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be
saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
(Luke 21 also
appears to be talking about the same event; however, though many aspects are
similar, he is really writing about the lead-up to the destruction of Jerusalem
and the temple in 70 AD.)
Some say that
Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy is of Antiochus IV Epiphanes who, in 167 BC, desecrated the temple.
…..the worship of Yahweh and all of the Jewish rites were
forbidden on pain of death. In the Temple an altar to Zeus Olympios
was erected, and sacrifices were to be made at the feet of an idol in the image
of the King. (Encyc. Britannica)
He also
allegedly sacrificed a pig on the temple altar to punish the Jews. However,
Jesus talked about the abomination as yet in the future. It is likely, though,
that Antiochus IV Epiphanes was a first level of the prophecy, yet still just a
figure of the main event in the future. This often happens in prophecy.
Another passage
in Daniel (8:13-14) appears to mention the tribulation, yet makes it 2300 days,
a bit short of the seven years. Some commentators also say this relates instead
to Antiochus IV Epiphanes. However, once again, Antiochus is probably a type of
the tribulation to come. But 2300 is too short; yet some say the original read
2500 days. This passage is too unclear to determine which it might mean so it’s
best to accept the consistency of the rest of the Bible in establishing a 7
year period. Likewise, Daniel 11:31 which appears to be about Antiochus who is
but a type of the antichrist; there is so much prophecy that is on two levels
though.
Daniel
8:13-14 – 13 Then I
heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain [saint] which
spake, How long [shall be] the vision [concerning]
the daily [sacrifice], and the transgression of desolation, to give
both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? 14 And
he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the
sanctuary be cleansed.
Daniel 11:31 – And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall
pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily {sacrifice},
and they shall place the abomination that maketh
desolate.
Note also Daniel 7:25 – And he
shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be
given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Once again 3½
years appears.
3/. This final 7 year period is for
Israel and not for the Church.
The Bible makes
it clear that the Church has taken the place of a rejected Israel (Romans 11),
being grafted as wild olive branches onto the natural rootstock of the olive
tree representing Israel. However, it also makes it clear that Israel cannot be
grafted back on again until the purpose for the Church to be on the olive tree
is completed or fulfilled.
Romans
11:24-27 – 24 For if
thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much
more shall these, which be the natural [branches], be graffed into their own olive tree? 25 For
I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye
should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to
Israel, until the fulness
of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be
saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall
turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this [is] my
covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
fulness – pleroma (that which fills or with which a thing is filled (a)
of those things which a ship is filled, freight and merchandise, sailors,
oarsmen, soldiers
(b)
completeness or fullness of time. That is, the full complement or manifest of
people are on board when the ship sails. Thus, the full complement of the
Church (the Gentiles) must be included on the manifest so that the ship can
depart and Israel can then “see” again and be saved. This will happen seven
years before the second coming of Jesus.
There are those
(primarily from a more reformed or calvinistic persuasion) who do not accept
that Israel comes back onto her own timeline for the last seven years. They
prefer to teach that there are three main covenants, the covenants of
redemption, works, and grace, and that these covenants have then been
transferred to the Church (which either stands in Israel’s place, or even
totally replaces Israel). The two covenants of works and of grace are those
which apply to mankind. This is called covenant theology.
Wikipedia – Historical
Reformed systems of
thought treat covenant theology not merely as a point of doctrine or
as a central dogma, but as the structure by which the
biblical text organizes itself.
..... the Covenant of Redemption,
is the agreement within the Godhead that the Father would appoint his son Jesus to give up his life for mankind
and that Jesus would do so (cf. Titus 1:1-3). ….. the Covenant of Works, was
made in the Garden of Eden
between God and Adam and promised
life for obedience and death for disobedience. Adam disobeyed God and broke the
covenant, and so the third covenant was made between God and all of mankind,
who also fell with Adam according to Romans 5:12-21. …. (the) third covenant,
the Covenant of Grace,
promised eternal blessing for belief in Christ and obedience to God's word. …. Covenant
theology has roots in the writings of Augustine and John Calvin (Institutes of
the Christian Religion 2:9-11). http://www.theopedia.com/covenant-theology
Covenant
theology is clearly outlined in Chapter 7 of the Westminster Confession (a
declaration of calvinist or reformed beliefs).
In the covenant
of grace, God freely offers to sinners (that is, those who fail to live up to
the covenant of works) eternal life and salvation through faith in Jesus
Christ. Covenant theology is often seen as Replacement theology; that is, the covenants
remain in place, but the Church replaces Israel as the one with whom God
makes the covenants. The covenant theology supporters say “Replacement
theology” is an incorrect label and that there isn’t a sharp distinction
between the Church and Israel.
Some have
accused Covenant Theology as teaching what is called “Replacement Theology” (i.e., the Church
replaces Israel). This couldn’t be further from the truth. Unlike
Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology does not see a sharp distinction between
Israel and the Church. Israel constituted the people of the God in the OT, and
the Church (which is made up of Jew and Gentile) constitutes the people of God
in the NT; both just make up one people of God (Ephesians 2:11-20). The Church doesn’t replace
Israel; the Church is Israel and Israel is the Church (Galatians 6:16). All people who exercise the
same faith as Abraham are part of the covenant people of God (Galatians 3:25-29). http://www.gotquestions.org/covenant-theology.html
Thus, in covenant
theology, Israel ceases to exist separately from the Church. That is, in
prophetical passages concerning Israel, the Church has taken on the role of
Israel, including all the actions and responsibilities. Some, though, teach
that Israel has ceased as a people of God, and that the Church has completely
replaced Israel; that is, every time Israel is mentioned after her rejection,
it is really the Church that is involved. Extreme views of this are held by
such as the British Israelites, although strict calvinists generally believe in
this also. Others, though, teach that Israel and the Church have merged such
that both exist concurrently, without clear distinction for each, especially in
the end-times. Most old-fashioned reform beliefs not only wipe Israel off the
religious calendar completely; they also go further and remove the event that
follows the tribulation, the millennium reign of Christ. Thus, they do not
believe in a literal millennial reign of Jesus. This view is termed amillennialism. Presbyterian and other reform belief, such
as Dutch Reform, fall into this category.
However, for the
above views, there is no real rapture. Where Israel is mentioned (for example,
in Revelation), it really means the Church which has either merged with Israel
or completely replaced Israel. Some believe the rapture is symbolic and that
when the Messiah returns, He will redeem all His people, and others believe
that the rapture occurs just before the second coming, such that Jesus comes
with clouds (of believers, that is). Much of this is believed by reformed or
calvinist people.
Therefore, we
will dismiss a rapture at the end of the tribulation as non-scriptural. Such an
event presupposes that Israel is no longer a separate entity from the Church. However,
many fundamentalists still maintain that the rapture will be 3½ years before
the end, that is, around the time when the abomination is set up. They look at
passages such as Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 to support their views.
However, they must assume that such passages are discussing more than just
Israel (covenant theology may still be a problem in their thinking here)
whereas it does seem clear that Jesus was talking about Israel in each case,
noting the connection of the Matthew 24 and Mark 13 passages with Revelation 12
where Israel flees into the wilderness for 1260 days during the tribulation. Note
too that Luke 21 is about something that occurs before the Great Dispersion after
70 AD.
Luke 21:24 – And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and
shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down
of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Also note that where
it discusses what appears to be the rapture in Matthew 24:37-42, it is a
different section of that passage. For if Matthew 24:15-22 is talking about
those people of God who must flee for their lives (it seems to be Israel that
is indicated here), then why flee if those people of God are also going to be
snatched away (raptured) instead? Thus there are two separate events involving
two separate groups of people here, (a) Israel which has to flee when they see
the abomination, and (b) the Church which will be snatched away (raptured)
probably 3½ years before this.
Matthew 24:37-42 – 37 But as
the days of Noe (Noah) [were], so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before
the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until
the day that Noe (Noah) entered into the ark, 39 And
knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming
of the Son of man be. 40 Then shall two be in the field; the
one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two [women
shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth
come.
Other things to note are that the Church isn’t mentioned playing any part in any tribulation etc after the letters to the seven churches are completed in Revelation Chapters 3 & 4. Only by making the Church part of Israel (or Israel part of the Church, or Israel replaced by the Church) can you make the Church logically be part of the tribulation of Revelation. A pre-tribulation rapture is consistently supported by teaching that demonstrates that the ministry of the church is fulfilled (relating to the full ship’s complement or manifest being on board before the ship sails – “the fullness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:25) before salvation can come back to Israel – “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26).
Another point to note is that, while many teach that the two witnesses in Jerusalem (Revelation 11:3-14) are present during the first half of the tribulation, also note carefully that the seven final vials (bowls) of wrath (= the last woe) follow immediately after those two witnesses ascend to heaven. This is more consistent with the two witnesses being present in the second half of the tribulation, ascending to heaven just before the final seven vials are poured out upon the earth (Revelation 16). These final seven vials probably span a period of only thirty days, culminating in the battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 11:3-14 – 3 And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days (1260 days = 3½ years), clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will. 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies [shall lie] in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 11 And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. 13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past; [and], behold, the third woe cometh quickly.
(This third and last woe includes the seven vials of the wrath of God leading up to Armegeddon.)
Biblical consistency shows that the Church (which is collectively the temple of the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.) must be removed before the antichrist may be revealed.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 – 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
This following
passage describes the rapture, yet it says little concerning the timeline,
other than the “already dead” Christians will rise first.
1
Thessalonians 4:16-17 – 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead
in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and]
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the
Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
It is also
generally believed that the wedding feast of the Lamb will take place between
the rapture and the second coming, although this is likely to be on a timeline
independent of earth’s timeline! However, this is not clear yet, nor will be
until it happens, apparently.
4/. Conclusion
So we know
there is going to be a seven year period at the end; complete, though in two
sections, yet concurrent (that is, one following the other). Revelation makes
it clear this is to do with Israel with the sealing of 12,000 from each tribe
in Revelation 7:4-8, and that the Church must “leave” before Israel can come
back on stage. The only logical conclusion is that the Church must sail with
its full complement on board (= fulfilled) before the final seven years
commence. Consider the alternatives: the Church sits around doing nothing for
3½ to 7 years? The Church joins up with Israel? The Church is Israel? There is no tribulation period? There is no
millennium? Most of Revelation (and other end-times prophecy is hypothetical or
allegorical? Or perhaps the rapture is actually just before the seven year
tribulation period commences, just as the Bible teaches!
We would have
to re-write much of the Bible to prevent Israel from coming back for her last
seven years on Daniel’s timeline! And why not also re-write the creation
account to also be allegorical? And perhaps everything else? We have lost the
desire to seek the truth for what it is, because we have disobeyed God’s
command to test all things.
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